Sir Alex Ferguson marked his final match as manager of Manchester United at Old Trafford by lifting the Premier League trophy on behalf of his team. United beat Swansea 2-1 on Sunday but had already won their 13th Premier League title and club's 20th championship on 22 April. Ferguson, 71, was given a guard of honour before the match and addressed the crowd after the final whistle.”Everyone at the club and you the fans have been the most fantastic experience of my life,” said the emotional Scot.”Thank you. I have been very fortunate to manage some of the greatest players in the country. These players have won the championship in fantastic fashion. Well done to them. “When we had bad times here, everyone stood by me and your job now is to stand by your new manager.” Ferguson will end his 26-year reign after the club's last match of the season, at West Brom on Sunday, 19 May. He will be succeeded by Everton boss David Moyes, who is to take over on a six-year contract from 1 July. In his 1,499th game as United manager, Ferguson's side took the lead through Mexican striker Javier Hernandez.Spanish forward Michu equalised for Swansea before United defender Rio Ferdinand won the match three minutes before full-time. Afterwards, Ferguson was handed a microphone and addressed the 75,572 sell-out crowd.”I've got no script in my mind, I'm just going to ramble on and hope I get to the core of what this club is meant to be,” he said.”I have been very fortunate. I have been able to manage some of the greatest players in the country, let alone Manchester United. “My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life with the club. I will now be able to enjoy watching them rather than suffer with them. The players, I wish the players every success in the future. You know how good you are, you know the jersey you are wearing, you know what it means to everyone here.Don't let yourselves down. The expectation is always there.” Ferguson added that his most important achievement was the first league title with United in 1993. “The door opened after that. We just grew and grew and grew. We had some fantastic teams.” Ferguson's Man Utd trophies Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013. FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004 League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010 Champions League: 1999, 2008 Cup Winners Cup: 1991 FIFA Club World Cup: 2008 UEFA Super Cup: 1992 Inter-Continental Cup: 1999 FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011 (news agencies)
